Positioning apparatus for elevator guide rails



Julie 25,1946. H. E. HALL 2,402,888

POSITIONING APPARATUS FOR-ELEVATOR GUIDE RAILS Filed Aug. 2, 1944 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Max 2 h 8.1

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- POSITIONING APPARATUS FOR ELEVATOR GUIDE RAILS Patented June 25. 1946 POSITIONING APPARATUS FOR ELEVATOR- GUIDE RAILS Harry Edward Hall, Tenafly, N. J assignor to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 2, 1944, Serial No. 547,744

6 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for determining the proper positions for the guide rails in elevator hoistways.

Guide rails are provided in elevator installa tions for both the car and counterweight. Those for the car are usually arranged oppositely, one on each side of the hoistway, with those for the counterweight arranged oppositely along one of the hoistway walls. It is important that each rail be set vertical, 1. e., with all points along the face of the rail in the same vertical plane and also all points along each side of the rail in the same vertical plane, and that opposing rails are uniformly spaced with the sides of pposing rails in the same plane.

The object of the invention is to provide apparatus for facilitating the proper setting of the rails.

The invention involves a pair of plumb lines for each guide rail and a gauge adapted for use on these plumb lines and serving to locate the proper position of the rail brackets and the proper position of the guide rail sections.

Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

'-In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of an elevator hoistway illustrating plumb lines and gauges for setting the elevator car guide rails;

Figure 2 is a fragmental view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail in plan view of a pair of plumb lines of Figure 1 with the gauge arranged thereon in position for setting a rail bracket;

Figure 4 is a front view of the same;

Figure 5 is a detail in plan view of a pair of plumb lines of Figure l with the gauge arranged thereon in position for setting a rail section;

Figure 6 is a front view of the same;

Figure '7 is a detail in plan View illustrating the support fora pair of plumb lines at the top of the hoistway; and

Figure 8 is a detail in plan view illustrating the support for a pair of plumb lines at the bottom of the hoistway.

The invention will be described by way of illustration in connection with the guide rails for the elevator car, the guide rails for the counterweight not being shown. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the guide rails H come in sections which are secured together by means of fish plates 12. The rails are mounted on rail brackets l3. The rail brackets are secured along the hoistway wall 14' or structural framework at spaced intervals,

the number of brackets and spacing depending upon the particular installation. Various types of brackets may be employed, a chair type having been illustrated. These brackets may be fastened in various ways depending upon the manner and type of building construction but are illustrated as secured to the walls by bolts I5 extending for example into expansion shells IS, the holes for which are made with star drills.

In installing the brackets and rail sections, a pair of plum lines I! and i8 are dropped in the hoistway for each rail. These plum-b lines are in the form of iron plumb wires. Each pair of plumb lines is supported at the top of the hoistway by a supporting plate 20. These supporting plates are mounted on a temporary wood crossbeam 2 I. This crossbeam is supported by brackets 22 secured to the hoistway walls. The crossbeam is positioned so as to be square with the hoistway walls and level and the supporting plates are mounted on the crossbeam midway their ends and are positioned at right angles to the crossbeam. Each supporting plate as shown in Figure '1 is provided with apertures 23 at the ends thereof through which the plumb lines extend. Also a pair of lashing screws 24 are mounted on the supporting plate adjacent the apertures around which the upper ends of the plumb lines are wound. With the construction of gauge described below these supporting plates may be spaced a distance-equal to the desired distance between the faces of the guide rails. Two inch plates with apertures 23 intermediate the sides have been found satisfactory.

The lower end of each plumb line is provided with a tensioning weight 25. Eyelets are provided in the top of the weights to which the plumb lines are secured. Supports 26 for the plumb lines are also provided at the bottom of the hoistway. These supports are U-shaped and are illustrated as of three piece construction. Referring to Figure 8 which illustrates a lower support for one side of the hoistway, this support comprises two arms 21 and a yoke 28. The supports are mounted on the ends of a wood crossbeam 30 arranged on supporting framework 3| in the hoistway pit. The crossbeam extends crosswise of the hoistway and is positioned in alignment with the upper crossbeam and levelled. The length of this crossbeam is about four inches less than the desired distance between the faces of the guide rails, to facilitate the installation of the rails.

same distance as apertures 23 in supporting plate Each of arms 21 has a notch 32 in the end thereof, these notches being spaced the 20. The lower supports are positioned on the crossbeam so that the plumb lines just touch the ends of arms 21 in notches 32. An open eye bolt or hook 33 depends from each arm through .which the plumb line is led and allowed to han The preliminary setting of the plumb lines is made temporary to enable measurements to be made between the plumb lines and the hoistway walls to insure sufiicient room for setting the brackets and rails and proper operating clearance for the car. For this temporary setting it is preferred to clamp the supports for the plumb lines onto the crossbeams to enable shifts to be made if desired. When the proper position has been obtained the upper supporting plates are secured to upper crossbeam 2! by bolts 35 and nails 36 and the lower supports are similarly secured to lower crossbeam 30 by bolts 31 and nails 38.

The gauge 40 for mounting on the plumb lines is in the form of a plate having one edge 4| straight and the other edge with a trough-shaped cutout portion 42, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. A small level 43 is mounted on the plate. Near each end the plate is provided with an aperture 44. A slit 46 leads from each aperture to the end of the plate. The plumb lines are inserted in these slits in mounting the plate on the lines. The gauge is supported on clips 45, one on each plumb line. Each clip has a base 4'! from which a stem 48 extends. These stems fit into apertures 44 in the gauge. A slit extends from the side to the center of the clip to receive the plumb line and a set screw 59 is provided for locking the clip in position.

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4, in installing a rail bracket I3, a pair of clips is mounted on the plumb lines opposite the position where the bracket is to be installed and the gauge with the straight edge 4i toward the wall is mounted on the plumb lines and slid down onto the stems of the clips. The clips are adjusted so that the gauge is level.

A bracket with a vertical centerline inscribed on its face is placed in position with this centerline opposite the centerline 52 on the gauge. The holes for the mounting bolts are then scribed on the hoistway wall. The bracket is then removed and the holes drilled. Expansion shells shells I6 are placed in these holes and the brackets are put back in position and secured by means of bolts [5. Shims 53 are placed behind the brackets where necessary to move the brackets out to desired position and parallel with the edge 4| of the gauge, it being preferred to leave a small space, say of about A", between the gauge and the face of the bracket to allow for any inaccuracies.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 6, in installing a section of uide rail H the line clips are positioned either above or below a rail bracket and the gauge is placed in the clips 50 that cutout portion 42 faces the wall. The rail section is then placed against the rail bracket in the desired vertical position and secured in place by means of rail clips 54 secured to the bracket by bolts 55 extending into threaded apertures 56 in the bracket. Shims 51 are placed beneath the base of the rail to position the guide rail face so that it just touches the base 58 of the trough. Before fully tightening the bolts 55 the rail is shifted sidewise if necessary so that its face is opposite the space between lines 60 on the gauge at the base.

The counterweight rails are set in a similar manner. Qwing to the fact that the counterweight rails are run along the wall of the hoistway, the lines of each pair of plumb lines for these rails are closer together and the gauge plate smaller. Two gauge plates may be provided for stacking a pair of guide rails, one for each pair of plumb lines, as shown for example in Figure 1. This enables workmen to be setting up both rails at the same time. However, one gauge plate may be employed by transferring it from one pair of plumb lines to the other. Different size gauges are provided for different size rails, it being preferred to keep apertures 44 a standard distance from or in line with the base 58 of the cut out portion to render the setting of the supports for the plumb lines uniform.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for determining the proper position in an elevator hoistway of a guide rail and its mounting brackets comprising; a pair of plumb lines extending down the hoistway; means supporting said plumb lines so that they are in predetermined positions in relation to the intended position of the rail in the hoistway; a gauge adapted for mounting on said plumb lines for setting the brackets and the rail sections; and means for mounting said gauge on said plumb lines.

2. Apparatus for determining the proper position in an elevator hoistway of a pair of guide rails and their mounting brackets comprising; a pair of plumb lines for each guide rail extending down the hoistway; means supporting said plumb lines so that the plane of the plumb lines of each pair is perpendicular to the plane through the center lines of the intended positions of the guide rails and so that said planes of said pairs of plumb lines are a certain distanc apart; and gauge means removably mounted on said plumb lines for setting the bracket and the rail sections.

3. Apparatus for determining the proper position in an elevator hoistway of a guide rail and its mounting brackets comprising; a pair of plumb lines extending the length of the hoistway; means supporting said plumb lines at the top and bottom of the hoistwa-y so that the plane of the plumb lines is perpendicular to the planes of the intended positions of the sides of the guide rail and so that the lines are equidistant therefrom; a gauge having a straight edge for setting the brackets and a cut out portion for setting the rail sections; and means for mounting said gauge-on said plumb lines.

4. Apparatus for determining the proper. position in an elevator'hoistway of'a guide rail and its mounting brackets comprising; a pair of plumb lines extending the length of the hoistway; a tensionin weight for each plumb line at the lower end thereof; means supporting the plumb lines at the top of the hoistway so that the plane of the plumb lines is perpendicular to. the plane of the intended position of a side of the guide rail; means holding said plumb lines in position at the bottom of the hoistway; a gauge plate having a pair of openings to receive said plumb lines, said gauge plate having a straight;

edge for setting the brackets and a cut out portion for setting the rail sections, markings being provided on the gauge plate for aligning the vertical centers of the brackets and for aligning the sides of the rail sections; and clip for supporting said gauge plate in proper position on said plumb lines.

5. Apparatus for determining the proper position in an elevator hoistway of a guide rail and its mounting brackets comprising; a pair of plumb lines extending the length of the hoistway; a tensioning weight for each plumb line at the lower end thereof; an upper support for the plumb lines at the top of the hoistway; means mounting said upper support level and so that the plane of the plumb lines is perpendicular to the plane of the intended position of a side of the guide rail; a lower support for the plumb lines at the bottom of the hoistway above said weights; means mounting said lower support level and in position to hold said lines in position; a gauge plate having a pair of openings to receive said plumb lines, said gauge plate having one edge straight and the opposite edge with a cut out portion, the gauge plate being mounted on said plumb lines with the straight edge toward the brackets for setting the brackets and with the cut out portion toward the brackets for setting the rail sections, markings being provided on the gauge plate for aligning the vertical centers of the brackets and the sides of the rail sections; and clips for supporting said gauge plate in proper position on said plumb lines.

6. Apparatus for determining the proper position in an elevator hoistway of a guide rail and its mounting brackets comprising; a pair of plumb lines extending the length of the hoistway; a tensioning weight for each plumb line on the bottom thereof; a supporting plate for the plumb lines at the top of the hoistway, said plate having a pair of spaced apertures through which the plumb lines extend and a pair of lashing screws to which the ends of the plumb lines are secured; means mounting said supporting plate level, so that the plane of the plumb lines is perpendicular to the plane of the intended position of a side of the guide rail and a certain distance from the intended position of the face of the guide rail toward the base of the guide rail and so that the plumb lines are equidistant from the vertical center line of the intended position of the rail; a support for the plumb lines at the bottom of the hoistway above said weights, said support having a pair of notches spaced to correspond with the spacing of said apertures in said supporting plate and hooks extending downwardly from said support through which the plumb lines are led to hold them in said notches; means mounting said support level and with said notches in line with said apertures; a clip on each plumb line, said clip being vertically adjustable thereon and. having a base and an upwardly extending stem; and a gauge plate having a pair of apertures to receive said stems and spaced to correspond with said distance between plumb lines and having slits leading into said apertures into which said plumb lines are inserted to enable said gauge plate to be mounted on said clips resting on the bases thereof, said gauge plate having a straight edge and center aligning bracket marking, the gauge plate being mounted on the clips with the straight edge toward the bracket for setting the brackets, and a cut out portion on the opposite edge having rail face aligning markings at the base thereof, the gauge plate being mounted on the clips with the cut out portion toward the face of the rail for setting the rail sections.

HARRY EDWARD HALL. 

